Blesofsky Sings at Satmar Wedding

By COLlive reporter

Chabad chassidim were among the many guests that took part in the wedding of the children of the respected Satmar families, Wolner and Jakubowitz, in Williamsburg this past Sunday.

At a high point during the dancing, Lubavitcher singer and composer Boruch Sholom Blesofsky added to joy with a rendition of his new composition “Tovim Me’oros,” as well as other popular Chassidishe songs.

Blesofsky, who was a finalist in “A Jewish Star” singing competition and composes for Mordechai Ben David, is the son-in-law of Rabbi Bentzion Geisinsky, Director of Chabad of Bethesda in Maryland.

Geisinsky maintains a warm friendship with Reb Menachem Wolner, father of the chosson and owner of an upscale bus-line named Vamoose Bus Co. (together with his business partner, Reb Zanvel Bluzenstien).

Shluchim in the Greater Washington area have been the recipients of the parners’ generosity, offering their buses to transport children of Shluchim and volunteers coming to help with Chabad activities.

Rabbi Geisinsky noted the substantial benefit afforded to the Shluchim as their numerous children are able to come home for a Shabbos without concern of transportation expenses.

Over the years, the friendship between the Geisinskys and the Wolners has grown to a personal level. They attend each other’s simchas and the Wolners join the Geisinkys for Shabbos whenever they are in Maryland.

The genuine friendship between these Chabad and Satmar families has inspired an article written by the late writer Rabbi Yehoshua Dubrawsky, Geisinsky’s father-in-law who was privy to meet Reb Menachem Wolner on many occasions.

“This is not an isolated case,” says Rabbi Geisinsky. “Many genuine friendships have been formed between Chabad Shluchim and Satmar businessmen as they have come to help each other out.”

He said the evidence of this can be seen more and more frequently at major events of either community, one is likely to see faces from the adjacent neighborhoods, Crown Heights and Williamsburg at each other’s events.

“At first the acquaintance may be formal, but in a short time many of these families grow to become personal close friends who respect each other and deeply appreciate the essential family that is all of Klal Yisroel,” he added.